A little bit of routine small engine maintenance can go a long way in extending the life of your lawn mower or snow blower. As you move into a new season, get out your easy-to-follow Changing of the Guard checklist and make sure your machine is ready to go next time you need it. No one has time for down time.

From oil filters to blades and protective covers, our independent hardware store has the parts you need to properly store your equipment and get you ready for the season ahead.

Fall Checklist

Add Stabilizer and Fresh Fuel to Your Lawn Mower

Most engine manufacturers recommend using a fuel stabilizer or draining the fuel system before putting the machine into storage. If you use a fuel stabilizer, mix the gasoline according to the instructions on the stabilizer container. Fill the machine’s gas tank about 3/4 full (using low ethanol gasoline) and allow the machine to run for a few minutes to make sure stabilized gasoline is in the carburetor as well as the tank. If equipped, turn the fuel valve to the off position. Note: It’s okay to add fuel stabilizer to your gas can with each fill up.

Change the Oil and Spark Plug

Change the oil and filter if equipped. Replace with the engine manufacturer’s recommended oil and filter type.

Clean the Blades and Undercarriage

Clean the unit: wipe or blow off the clippings and debris from the top of the unit and check the belt(s) and idler pulleys for wear. Check the blades, as now is a great time to replace or sharpen the blades. Remove the ignition key and/or the spark plug wire before working under the mower deck.

Properly Store Your Lawn Mower

Let your lawn mower hibernate for the winter in a cool, dry place. Protect your lawn mower from the elements with a Lawn Mower Cover.

Not a do-it-yourselfer? Contact Monnick Supply to schedule an appointment for seasonal maintenance.

Sure it looks small. But this compact powerhouse Ariens snow blower packs a big-time punch. From a light dusting, to residential sidewalk duty, Ariens compact machines are easy to maneuver, while consistently delivering performance that’s impossible to overlook. Folding handlebars make putting it away as easy as it is to use.

Ariens legendary snow blowers are available in a compact size. Light and easy to handle, yet has all-steel construction and a 20" housing to power through any drift. Folding handlebars for easy storage. 11" auger diameter. Blows snow up to 40ft and clears up to 52.6 tons/hour dependent on model. Choice of 22" or 24" clearing widths.

Now is a great time to take your snowblower to a local dealer for any needed maintenance or repairs. Once the snow falls, their shops will be extremely busy, and they will most likely have long delays.

If you want to see what we recommend, see below to ensure your snowblower is ready for winter.

Use Fresh, Good-Quality Fuel

Use fresh fuel (less than 30 days old). Gasoline gets “stale” over time and fresh fuel ignites more easily. Stale gas can leave harmful deposits in your product’s fuel system. Ethanol-free gasoline is even better for your small engines.

Today’s gasoline does not have the same chemical makeup as years ago. Testing has shown that significant deterioration can begin in as little as 30 days. The first sign of old gas is it makes starting more difficult. This is because the most volatile components of the fuel are the first to deteriorate and are the ones that help an engine start easily.

We recommend you use a national brand to ensure you are beginning with good- quality fuel. Use fuel with an octane rating of 87, or as close to 87 as you can. Higher octane fuels offer no benefit for your residential products, and some high octane additive packages are not good for small engines. Only purchase what you expect to use within 30 days, or add stabilizer. If you add a fuel stabilizer the day you buy the gasoline, you can expect the fuel to stay fresh for 4-6 months. Fuel stabilizer and ethanol-free fuel is available at Monnick Supply.

It’s also a good idea to wait until the cool fall weather season arrives before purchasing gasoline for your machine. Gasoline is reblended to suit the season, and although the difference isn’t as great as it once was, winter-grade fuel will make cold weather starts easier.

Check Your Spark Plug

Starting will be easier if the spark plug is in good condition. If in doubt, replace it. A new spark plug will be able to better ignite the fuel-air mixture within the engine. You should also make sure the spark plug wire securely attaches to the spark plug.

Check Your Oil

If you have a 4-cycle model (fuel and oil are separate) and didn’t change the oil last spring, now is the time. Even if you only run the machine a few hours a year, the oil should be changed. Oil in a small engine does not break down very fast; however, it does become contaminated. Moisture from the air and small amounts of combustion byproducts (exhaust) will build up in the oil within a very short time. This contamination will result in increased wear and can even eat away at internal parts over time. Following the recommended schedule for your machine can help prevent expensive repairs.

Check Your Owner’s Manual

Review the starting procedures outlined in the operator’s manual, including the proper operation of the safety features on your unit.

Perform an Annual Inspection

Before each season, the rotor blades should be inspected for wear. When a rotor blade edge has worn down to the wear indicator hole, both rotor blades and the scraper should be replaced. Inspect the drive belt for fraying, cracking or signs of stretching. Replace the drive belt if any of these conditions occur. It is recommended to have an extra belt on hand in the event the belt breaks while operating. Check for any loose fasteners and tighten as necessary. Missing fasteners should be replaced immediately.

Fall is here and it is time to prepare your lawn mower for winter storage so that in the spring it will run properly again. Here are some tips on how to maintain a lawn mower and prepare it for winter storage. Nothing is more frustrating when you want to mow your lawn for the first time in the spring and it just won’t start.

You do not want to store the tank empty. You want to put the ethanol free fuel in it for storage. After you have run it dry of regular gas, put the ethanol free gas in it and run that for a few minutes then put it away with the ethanol free fuel still in it.

Change the air filter on your lawn mower at the end of the season, as well as once or twice during the long mowing season. Empty the oil tank and refill after cleaning up your mower and sharpening the blades. Be sure to dispose of the old oil properly.

Cleaning your mower will go a long way to prolong the life of your mower as well, preventing rust buildup, ensuring blades are kept sharp and keeping free of grease and dirty buildup.

Use steel wool pads to rub away any rust spots that appear over the growing season.

Beneath the mower, clean the underside of the carriage as well as the blades. Use a hose to power wash off any dried mud and grass clippings. Some additional scraping may be necessary, especially on the underside, but regular maintenance of this type after each mowing should keep this to a minimum.
Be sure to use soap and water and a scrubbing brush to cleanse any oily, greasy spots on the mower.

Sharpening the mower blades is important too. Schedule an appointment at to have this done professionally. Give your mower blade a coating of WD-40 or other penetrating oil spray.

The new STIHL BR 700 steps things up a notch in the STIHL blower range. This high output professional blower is STIHLs most powerful model to date. Able to clear piles of wet leaves, and reduce bottom line costs with its fuel efficient engine, it is the ideal tool to get control over tough landscaping tasks and large property maintenance.

Professionals will love the adaptive design features, including an adjustable telescopic tube to accommodate users of different heights, and different applications, as well as the control handle that adjusts easily without tools to provide the most comfortable position. For further convenience, this backpack leaf blower comes with a semi-automatic choke for smooth and easy starts. Designed with an optimal power-to-weight ratio the BR 700 combines power and portability so you can get the job done whenever, wherever.

Fall is here. It’s not quite time for fall clean-up, but it’s right around the corner. Now is the perfect time to take stock in your power tools. What do you have, what do you need and what needs maintenance or parts? Make sure leaf blowers start, that your tools are clean and blades are sharpened or replaced, that wheelbarrow tires are fully inflated and your gas tanks are full.

But, don’t forget, when you are buying fuel for gas-driven small engines that manufacturers recommend using ethanol free gas. If you must buy gas with ethanol, use gas with 10% or less ethanol two-cycle engines and other gas powered small engines.

Most gas is mixed with ethanol which makes gas corrosive. It can destroy the rubber gaskets and seals in small engines which is why we recommend ethanol free gasoline. When getting gas for small engines remember that Toro and Stihl do not recommend using fuel with more than 10% ethanol content.

Small engine paper air filters should be replaced, but sponge filters can be washed with soap and water and then moistened by working in a few drops of motor oil.

Before filling the gas tank and adding fresh oil of any yard power tool, check the inner housing for buildup of caked-on dirt and grass clippings. Even a relatively thin coating can restrict the movement of air and grass clippings, making mulching lawn mowers less effective.

It is not too late to apply grass seed to your lawn and have successful results. Early in the fall is always best, but there is still time to develop a thicker, greener lawn. It certainly is more desirable to apply grass seed now then waiting for next spring when weeds and cold weather can really hamper your efforts.

Even though night time temperatures can be less than 60 degrees, the soil temperature is probably 5 to 10 degrees higher. Newly planted grass seed likes warm soil. The grass roots reach down deep to establish the plant before winter weather sets in. Proper soil preparation is key to growing a successful lawn. Please do not just throw grass seed over your existing lawn. Instead, rake areas to be seeded vigorously to loosen the soil or rent a seeding machine for best results. Be sure not to bury newly planted grass seed more than ¼” in depth. A few times a year I hear from homeowners who planted their grass seed too deeply and little grew. Once seed is applied, turn your rake over and gently swish it back and forth to barely cover the seed. By this time of year, we may even experience our first frost, but lawns will still grow with sunny days ahead. The first frost is very welcome; it will kill any existing crabgrass. First the crabgrass leaves turn purple and then brown a week later when completely dead. These areas can benefit from newly planted grass seed to fill in bare spots. Remember, your lawn can only be as good as the grass seed you sow, always buy Jonathan Green grass seed!

What about your soil pH? We have discussed this a number of times over the years, do you know your pH, and have you tested it? Soil test kits are available at many stores. Shame on you if you haven’t tested your pH, this is critical to growing a healthy lawn. Cool-season grasses like soil pH values between 6.2 to 7.0 for optimum growth. Mostly likely your soil pH is low and would benefit from an application of Mag-I-Cal. Calcium helps to develop cell walls and prepare grass plants for winter, while reducing disease potential.

Fall is such a great time to grow lawns and some of you may have already fertilized in early fall, either when seeding or not, an application of Winter Survival is great at this time. Many times this second application will keep your lawn green throughout the rest of the year if it does not get too cold in December. Winter Survival is not too high in Nitrogen. You will find the Nitrogen is the first number listed on the bag. Too much Nitrogen can lead to snow mold disease problems later in winter and spring.

Weed control in lawns at this time of year is generally limited to broadleaf weeds. Provided weeds are actively growing and soil temperatures are above 55 degrees, you can successfully control many types of broadleaf weeds. Some of these weeds may be masked by the better looking lawn areas, scan you lawn to see where they are growing. If you only have a few weeds here and there perhaps spot spraying is best. If you have a lot weeds a broadcast application of Green-Up Weed & Feed would be best. Why not give your lawn its last feeding for the season and clean out as many weeds as you can before next year? Keep mowing your lawn as long as it needs it into late fall. Be sure your mower blades are sharp and in good working order. Leave clippings on the lawn provided they are not wet or developing clumps which may kill existing grass. You’re all done, time to go watch a football game.

Discover what you can accomplish with a single battery charge and the STIHL Blower with the AK 20 battery. Turns out you can clear a sidewalk seven football fields long. What can you do on a Single Charge?